Under the Feet of Jesus

This novel is titled Under the Feet of Jesus. This comes from a quotation in chapter 2. Petra is telling Estrella that she shouldn't take all the junk that people give her for being an illegal worker, because she's the one putting food on their table. Petra tells her that if they ask about birth certificates, Estrella should "...tell them the birth certificates are under the feel of Jesus, just tell them." This encompasses one of the main themes of the novel, equality among everyone. The author is stressing that all individuals are born equal in the eyes of Jesus. The book has very heavy religious overtones. The title stresses the views of the main character's mother, Petra. Petra drills the idea of equality into Estrella's head from the time that she is born. In turn, Petra's ideas and opinions become synonymous with Estrella's. I think it is a very fitting title for the book. However, if I were to give it an alternative title, I would probably choose A Summer to Discover. It is during this time in her life that she discovers all she wants to be. Through these experiences and times, Estrella ends up becoming herself.

(Prompt #18, Chapter #5)

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

The overall message of the book is discovery and growth of self. The entire book has followed Estrella as she passes from adolescence into young adulthood. She really doesn't know how she is supposed to fit in, at first. She knows mostly what she doesn't want to become and bases her actions and life choices around that. Being a young girl, she's subject to the typical whims that come with her age. She wants to fall in love, a goal which she achieves. Through all that life throws at her, all the hardships and struggles, she remains true to herself. She has a real fighting spirit, refusing to be looked at as part of a mass. She wants to be an individual. She wants to be seen as Estrella, a strong, independent woman. The entire book stresses that it's through adversity and struggles that we as individuals truly triumph. It takes being tested to find out what we really believe in and who we really want to be. This is comparable to a line in one of my favorite songs, "Hold fast to the break of day. The shadow proves the sunshine." These struggles exist so that we may overcome them and enjoy the beauty of life. Estrella has to go through many heartbreaking experiences to discover the strong individual that she is. Through the story of a teenage migrant worker, this book begs the reader to go out and find a voice in the world.

(Prompt #8, Chapter #4)

Predictions Revisited

I was correct in guessing that Estrella would fall in love with one of the cousins. Her and Alejo are currently in a relationship. I was wrong, however, about it being forbidden. While her mother may not approve entirely, she realizes that there is nothing she can do to stop it. Petra is allowing her daughter to develop her own identity. She is not sheltering Estrella from life. Petra has given Estrella a lot more freedom as the book progresses and she grows into a young woman. So far the book has a very good vibe. Alejo and Estrella have not yet ended their relationship, but I guess I'll have to wait until the very end to find out how it all plays out.

(Prompt #7, Chapter #4)

Disconnected

Alejo is incredibly sick at this moment in time, so sick that he can't even talk. Nobody understands what's wrong with him and he can't communicate all that he is feeling. I connected to this for a couple of reasons. Two years ago I lost my voice and was unable to communicate verbally for 35 days. It was an incredibly frustrating experience. Just like Alejo, I could see and understand all that happening. I just couldn't verbally say what I was thinking. Alejo is in the same boat at the current time. He sees all that is happening and he can understand what everyone is doing for him, but he can't say anything to them. He wants to thank them for all that they are doing, but is unable. I also connected on a more literal stage. A few weeks ago I had a terrible virus and was sick for several days, similar to Alejo's illness. Everybody else had to care for me and I felt hopeless, just like Alejo.

(Prompt #10, Chapter #3)

Decisions

Alejo becomes severely ill one day. He can't walk, he can barely eat, and he has no control of his body. Perfecto wants to leave him alone, leave him to die. Petra won't allow this to happen. Petra wants to care for him and nurse him back to health, against Perfecto's insistence that he will never get better. To me there is no decision to make, they should care for Alejo. I commend Petra for sticking up for what she believes. Without her help, Alejo would surely have died. I would advise Perfecto to lighten up a bit. He's so serious and he doesn't really care about anyone but himself. He should learn to show compassion to others. I would advise Petra to keep doing what she's doing. She has a strong set of beliefs and she sticks to them. That is a good quality to have. The only bad decision she made was to marry her husband, who ultimately ended up leaving. However, she now has her beautiful children, whom she loves very much. I don't think that she needs much guidance. Estrella is the sam way. She is shaping up to be very similar to her mother.

Estilo

The author, Helena Maria Viramontes, has a very interesting style. She book is almost entirely in English, but she occasionally writes a few sentences in Spanish. This reminds the reader of the cultural aspects behind the book. It serves as a reminder that just because this family lives in the United States, it doesn't mean they have forgotten their roots. They have not completely adapted to American customs, holding on to their cultural identity. These short blurbs of Spanish are difficult for me as the reader because I am not familiar with the language. I have to go look up what the phrases mean, which can be a bit annoying. However, I think that these passages add a lot of authenticity and character to the book. It reinforces the point that personal character should be held on to. Our differences shape our entire lives. Also, the author also has a tendency to jump from one scene to another without any warning. This is entirely too distracting and I think it detracts from my enjoyment of the novel. I think it would suit the novel better to switch chapters when switching story lines.

(Prompt #11, Chapter #2)

Universal Birth Certificates

"Don't run scared. You stay there and look them in the eye. Don't let them make you feel you did a crime for picking the vegetables they'll be eating for dinner. If they stop you, if they try to pull you into the green vans, you tell them the birth certificates are under the feel of Jesus, just tell them."

This quote embodies the theme of the book perfectly. Estrella is on the outskirts of society. She isn't accepted, she's looked down upon. Her mother is trying to instill a fighting spirit within her. Just because she may not be what society deems acceptable doesn't mean she is void of life and freedom. Estrella is trying to find her voice and place in this unfamiliar world, where everybody is trying to hold her back and keep her down. Her mother is telling her to fight because everybody is equal. She has the same human rights as anybody else. Everyone is born "under the feet of Jesus." This is the first time the title is mentioned in the reading. It's saying that we are all equal at birth in the eyes of religion. This idea should be applied to modern humanity, giving everybody the freedom and equality they deserve. Estrella needs to stand up for herself in order to better her life. The book is about her finding her true self amidst all the confusion and bad situations.

(Prompt #14, Chapter #2)

Predictions

So far the book has revolved around two seperate sets of characters: Estrella's family and the cousins. I think that these two sets of individuals are going to become intertwined. It makes perfect sense. Otherwise, why would she mention them? Estrella seems to be the main focus of her family, with the majority of the time being spent discussing her. The two cousins seem to have equal attention played to them, but I bet that one of them will become more of an emphasis as the novel progresses. I briefly remember reading something about young love, so perhaps Estrella and one of the cousins will fall in love. I would guess that this will be forbidden, as Petra, Estrella's mother, doesn't really allow her to have much freedom. Maybe this will take on a Romeo and Juliet theme of forbidden, young love. I foresee a bitter ending. I definitely don't think this will have a happily ever after vibe. The book seems too sorrowful to do a complete turn around in mood.

(Prompt #6, Chapter #1)

Lack of a Father

Estrella is quite a strong character. She shows a lot of strength for someone so young, but there is one aspect in her life which shows her youth and weakness - Perfecto. Estrella is outraged that Perfecto wants to be viewed as a father figure. He is not her father. He will never be her father. She gets into an argument when he asks for her help. Eventually she just breaks down and screams "You're not my papa." This whole conversation really moved me because it showed Estrella's vulnerable side. I think it is through vulnerability that character's become more easily identifiable with. When I am able to sympathize with an aspect of the novel, then I become more interested. She presented a sad situation, one in which she is longing for a father figure but will never get one in her current situation. I feel pity for her. I think that it is a sad situation that all too many people face. This entire scene really touched my heart.

(Prompt #5, Chapter #1)

Confusion

I don't really enjoy the author's style of writing in the first chapter. There are two different story lines involving two different sets of characters occurring simultaneously. It would be alright if there was something to signal which characters are being discussed at a certain time, but there aren't. It just switches between the two different story lines without any warning. The reader is left to assume that the author has changed topics. It is incredibly confusing to follow. I think this is a very inefficient way to write a novel. The author has thrown transitions out the door. Not only does she jump from story line to story line, but she jumps through time within each story line. I feel like I'm working on a jigsaw puzzle rather than reading a novel. I don't see the point in intertwining both of these stories in one chapter. Why didn't she devote a chapter to each set of characters? That would have been much more reader friendly.

(Prompt #1, Chapter #1)

Thesis

Che Guevara was a power-hungry hypocrite who manipulated society to gain the fame he sought.

Many Cuzcos

Che describes the city of Cuzco to be many cities within one city. Che writes, "Each one of these Cuzcos can be admired separately, and to each one we dedicated a part of our stay." Do you think that Che's description of Cuzco is at all reflective of himself as an individual? What other insights did this passage about Cuzco provide?

Essential Question

I think that Che wanted to be known for bettering society. I think that at the end of the day, he wanted to be remembered as an idealist who tried to make the world better. He believed that people should do all they could to better the society in which they lived. He thought that all people should work for the common good, without selfish indulgences. I think that he would want to be remembered as someone who did just that; a man who practiced what he preached. He wanted to influence people in a very deep way. In essence, he wanted to be remembered as a great thinker of our time. However, it wasn't fame that he was after. He was after something much deeper. He wanted to change the way that people think about society and make people examine the system currently in place. At the root of all he did was his philosophy, a philosophy by which he wanted to be remembered.

Brief Chilean History

Incas flourished. Spanish conquered. Socialists control.

Chilean Experiences

I think that Alberto impacted Che when he jumped through the fire to save someone's cat. I think that this experience furthered strengthened Che's need to sacrifice for others. Che mentions that Alberto, "Receiving effusive congratulations for his unrivalled heroism, his eyes shone with pleasure from beneath the huge helmet he had borrowed." I think this further strengthened Che's belief in helping others. He saw how happy saving the cat made both Alberto and the family who owned the cat. I think this allowed him to see the benefits of doing things for the greater good. This experience may have strengthened his belief in his ideals. It may possibly have been the foundation of some of his ideals. In this instance, Alberto exemplified what Che believes in.